>unable to change his condition. Still, doctors at Cedars did their best, >with exercises and medications, to strengthen his misshapen body and >increase its capabilities. >Although he arrived unable to speak in complete sentences, he was ready to >leave the U.S. a virtual motor-mouth, able to walk and talk without relying >on an oxygen tank, doctors said. >As he planned his trip back to England, where he edits an astrology magazine >and hosts a TV show for Arab television, Al Alousi vowed to spread the word >about his miraculous convalescence at Cedars Sinai hospital in America: >"I have the life. The people from the Arab world need to come here to get >the life. This community has magic power." > >Paper says mass graves of troops buried alive in Gulf War discovered. >Source: `Al-Jumhuriyah' web site, Baghdad, in Arabic 12 Sep 00 >Once again conclusive proof surfaces to indicate the brutality and the >thirst for blood and the grudge held against the great people of Iraq by the >Americans and the Britons and their agent rulers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. > >Mass graves of Iraqi soldiers were found in a spot lying between Safwan and >Kharanj and Khadr al-May in the southern badiah on the Iraqi-Kuwaiti-Saudi >border by environmentalists, with the help of Iraqi farmers, as they were >going about their work. > >The appearance of the martyrs whose remains were seen by a team from >`Al-Jumhuriyah' suggests that they were buried alive. It is apparent that at >the time of their death they were still completely dressed in their military >uniforms with their military gear still on them and each having a small >bottle [as published] containing his personal papers. > >Eyewitnesses from the areas around Safwan District and farmers from the >southern badiah in Kharanj and Khadr al-May corroborate the observations of >`Al-Jumhuriyah's team. The report that "aggressor Americans and Britons and >their agents who were affiliated with the Saudi and Kuwaiti regimes >perpetrated their cowardly deed as our Iraqi forces were carrying out their >formal withdraw back into Iraqi territory". >Enemy landing forces and mechanized armoured units were said to have >encircled Iraqi units as they were pulling back and then opened fire on them >and subsequently dumped them fully clothed in mass graves using bulldozers >and shovels. > >A source at Basra Governorate told our press office in the southern region >that government authorities are now trying to identify the dead ahead of >moving their remains. `Al-Jumhuriyah' once published details about mass >graves found immediately after the end of the 30-nation aggression committed >by the forces of evil. The discovery was broadcast live to the world by >international television networks. > >Saddam chairs economic committee meeting. >Source: Republic of Iraq Radio, Baghdad, in Arabic 1600 gmt 12 Sep 00 > >Leader President Saddam Husayn, may God watch over him, has presided over a >meeting that brought together several members of the Economic Committee. The >conferees discussed topics pertaining to economic and financial aspects. >The meeting was attended by Ahmad Husayn Khudayyir, chief of the >Presidential Office. > >Tariq Aziz meets French foreign minister in New York. >Source: Iraqi TV, Baghdad, in Arabic 1700 gmt 12 Sep 00 >Text of report by Iraqi TV on 12th September >Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz held an official meeting with French >Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine in New York last night. During the meeting, >Tariq Aziz underlined the importance of Iraqi-French ties. He also stressed >the importance of further promoting these ties through exchanging views in >the interest of the two countries. > >The two also discussed the situation at the UN Security Council [UNSC]. The >deputy prime minister noted Iraq's stance towards UNSC Resolution 1284, with >which Iraq will not comply because it is a bad resolution and does not >provide a solution. > >Iraq says Saudi Arabia breaking OPEC production agreement. >Source: Republic of Iraq Radio, Baghdad, in Arabic 2000 gmt 12 Sep 00 >Iraq has reiterated the importance of the independence of OPEC and making >decisions free from US pressure and the International Atomic Energy Agency's >policies seeking to weaken OPEC. > >An official source in the Iraqi delegation that participated in the OPEC >meetings commented on the final OPEC conference statement. The source told >the Iraqi News Agency in Vienna that Iraq had asked for including in the >final statement OPEC's firm stands on the many issues under discussion, >particularly the stand on the general taxes that the countries that consume >oil products impose, and the policies to protect the environment that harm >the member states and developing countries. The source stressed that the >increase by Saudi Arabia of its oil production violates the agreement that >OPEC reached in June this year. He said that these increases would lead to a >sharp drop in oil prices at the beginning of next year, particularly in the >second quarter of 2001. > >TAX ON FOREIGN CIGARETTES UP 50%. >According to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper (September 12, 2000), the Iraqi >government has decided to raise the customs tax imposed on foreign >cigarettes by 50%. A report released by the Iraqi cabinet stated that this >decision aims to protect the national cigarettes industry. As a result, the >prices of foreign cigarette brands jumped by 10%-20% immediately. The >smoking ratio in Iraq grew by 4 times over the past 10 years. > >Iraq to add 100,000 b/d in refining capacity - report. >London (AFP)-13Sep2000/725 pm EDT/2325 GMT Iraq will add 100,000 b/d in >refining capcity by starting up ten 10,000 b/d refineries scattered around >the nation, a government spokesman said, quoted by the weekly newspaper >Al-Ilam. The plants are to start operations in the coming days, the >spokesman said. The construction was done by the interior ministry and an >Iraqi group for military industrialization, the spokesman said, and the >facilities have all been tested. Plans for the refineries were first >announced in June. Details on their locations were no provided in the news >report. > >Iraq voices concern about proposed OPEC production hike. >Baghdad (AFP)-13Sep2000/541 pm EDT/2141 GMT Iraq Wednesday warned OPEC >against raising production, saying it would bring down prices by leading >consumers to replenish their stocks of oil. "We, as an OPEC member, are >worried about the skyrocketing increase in the levels of crude, (as) figures >from the International Energy Agency do not reflect the increase in >production, which shows that crude is well-stocked," Iraqi Oil Minister Amer >Mohamed Rashid told a press conference. "This inventory will therefore be >used to put pressure on producers, causing a catastrophe and a rapid >deterioration in prices in the short term," he added. Venezuelan Energy >Minister Ali Rodriguez, the acting president of the Organization of >Petroleum Exporting Countries, has said the cartel is ready to produce >another 2-mil b/d in the short term if necessary. > >Aeroflot to resume flights to Baghdad from Oct.. >Russia's Aeroflot Airlines is to resume flights to Baghdad in October, >according to a visiting Russian official. >Iraqi News Agency (INA) quoted Aeroflot's Regional Director Pavel P. Priadko >as saying the decision was taken by Russian President Vladimir Putin >following his meeting in Moscow last month with Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister >Tariq Aziz. >The official said Aeroflot will resume regular Moscow-Baghdad flights in >late October, according to the INA report. >International civilian flights to Baghdad ceased following the Gulf War of >1991, and Aeroflot would be the first airline to resume services to Baghdad. > >Priadko also said Russia "is exerting huge efforts through diplomatic >channels to lift the air embargo on Iraq," according to the report. "As a >permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and one of the superpowers, >Russia is committed to all U.N. resolutions. But no U.N. resolution provides >for an air embargo on Iraq. This is why Russia decided to resume flights to >and from Baghdad," he was quoted as saying. > >Priadko said he agreed with Iraq's Minister of Transport and Communications >Ahmed Murtadha Ahmed that an Iraqi team will travel to Moscow soon to >prepare for the resumption of flights. Aeroflot plans to run two or three >flights a week to Baghdad, and will reopen its Baghdad office in >mid-October, he said. > >MOSCOW, BAGHDAD INSIST ON HALTING IRAQ BOMBARDMENT, INTERFERENCE IN ITS >AFFAIRS. >MOSCOW. Sept 13 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Iraqi >Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz have said they consider it necessary to >halt the illegal bombardment of Iraqi territory and interference in its >internal affairs. > >Ivanov and Aziz spelled out this position during their meeting at the >Millenium Summit in New York within the framework of the 55th session of the >UN General Assembly, reads a Foreign Ministry release obtained by Interfax >on Wednesday. >The parties noted that the illegal bombardment of Iraqi territory and >interference in this country's affairs are hampering the settlement of the >Iraq problem, the release says. > >Ivanov and Aziz said they believe that "the resumption of aerial contact >with Baghdad and the unblocking of humanitarian contracts frozen by the UN >Sanctions Committee would contribute to a quicker settlement of the Iraq >problem." > >In considering ways in which to normalize the situation in the Persian Gulf >area, Ivanov emphasized that "in the interests of establishing security and >stability there, it is vital to bring the settlement of the Iraq problem >into the context of the general tasks of post-crisis reconstruction in this >area of the world," the document reads. > >Ivanov and Aziz "confirmed both sides' readiness to further develop and >strengthen the whole set of Russian-Iraqi links both in the current >circumstances and at the post-crisis stage," the report says. > > >U.N. says child malnutrition in Iraq very serious. > >ROME, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Child malnutrition is far more widespread in areas >of Iraq controlled by the Baghdad government compared to those administered >by the United Nations in the north, two U.N. agencies reported on Wednesday. > >Agriculture in southern and central Iraq has deteriorated significantly in >recent years due to two consecutive years of drought, a lack of investment >and a shortage of farm inputs, said a joint report by the Food and >Agriculture Organisation and World Food Programme. > >The high levels of malnutrition explained the continuing high rates of child >mortality, which have more than doubled since the end of the 1980s. "Child >malnutrition rates in the central and southern parts of the country do not >appear to have improved significantly and nutritional problems remain >serious and widespread," the report said. > >Malnutrition among children was very serious outside Baghdad and in rural >areas, reflecting the effects of drought and poverty, according to the >report. "The nutritional status of schoolchildren is a cause for concern, >especially for those from rural areas and poor households," the report said, >adding that iron deficiency and anaemia was high. Malnutrition often was due >to factors other than insufficient food, such as poor water supplies and bad >sanitation that caused infections in infants. > >The situation in the north of Iraq had improved significantly, acute >malnutrition levels having virtually disappeared and chronic malnutrition >having been reduced by half, the report said. The north is outside >government control, run by an autonomous Kurdish administration. Iraq >supplies the food and medicine but the United Nations distributes it >directly. > >The north receives 13 percent, a disproportionately high share, of the >oil-for-food revenues. It also has more rainfall and grows more of its own >food than the rest of the country. The United States has cited conditions in >the north as evidence that the Iraqi government is solely responsible for >malnutrition in the south. It says Baghdad deliberately obstructs food >distribution in the south and centre so that it can use the malnutrition as >an argument against the U.N. sanctions system. > >But the U.N. report attributed the differences to the Kurdish area's greater >self-sufficiency in food, the higher levels of food assistance and the >availability of cash in the region from spending by international >organisations. It did, however, say there was no sign that the Iraqi >government was implementing a vital supplementary feeding programme >recommended by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. > >The report said cereal production in Iraq this year fell to 794,000 tonnes, >some 47 percent below the poor 1999 harvest and 64 percent lower than the >previous five years' average. >Drought conditions also had drastically reduced the water resources in >rivers, dams, lakes and canals, some of which had virtually dried up, the >report added. As a result, prospects were unfavourable for the upcoming >irrigated summer crops, vegetables and fruits, according to the report. > >However, cereal imports under the U.N. Oil-For-Food Programme had >significantly improved the food supply situation since 1997/98. In 1995/96 >cereal consumption per person reached 63 percent of the 1984/85-1988/89 >average. In 2000/001, it was expected to rise to 90 percent of that level. > > > >MISCELLANY++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > >Mariam Appeal to launch Iraq International >Work Brigades > >The London based Mariam Appeal recently announced their plans to form >monthly international work brigades who will help build a friendship village >in Iraq beginning May 2001. Mr Stuart Halford the Director of the Mariam >Appeal told ISM that the monthly work brigades will under the supervision of >Iraqi tradesmen and engineers engage in "reconciliation through >reconstruction" in an original form of international solidarity. > >Brigadiers will be in Iraq for exactly one month at a time from May until >October 2001 and every year thereafter. They will have a programme of >construction work in the mornings, lectures and discussions in the >afternoons and social and cultural activities in the evenings. Participants >should be able to speak either English or Arabic (there will be a translator >always on hand) and should be aged 18 and over. And of course they will need >to be fit enough for light construction duties and the heat of the Iraqi >summer. Brigadiers will be asked to make a contribution towards travel to >Amman. All other costs will be met by the Mariam Appeal which will fundraise >for that purpose. > >For further information please contact Stuart Halford at the Mariam >Appeal on [EMAIL PROTECTED] or by telephone on (0044) 207 403 5200 >_________________________________________________________ >Dear friends, >I am sure this online petition to end the sanctions against our Iraqi kin >will interest many of you: > >http://www.PetitionOnline.com/s343/ > >Khaled Bayomi > >_________________________________________________________ > > >ADVERTISEMENT > >Position Four Brigade Coordinators Required (Full Time - with 3 >months per year on site in Iraq) For the MARIAM APPEAL "Iraq International >Work Brigades" > >Salary � 20,000 per annum > >To Start January 2001 > >The Mariam Appeal, which campaigns for the lifting of sanctions on Iraq, is >sending a series of International Work Brigades to Iraq to build an >international friendship village that will be used as a centre for >international friendship and solidarity with the people of Iraq. > >The village will symbolise "reconciliation through reconstruction" and will >upon completion, be used by Iraqi children for recuperation, rest, education >and play. The project will enable people from all over the world to express >solidarity with the people of Iraq, who have suffered grievously under the >10 year embargo. The brigades will perform light construction duties (under >the guidance of Iraqi tradesmen) hold discussion and education sessions and >enjoy a variety of cultural and social activities. > >Interested ? think you have what it takes to organise international brigades >? then please contact us at : > >MARIAM APPEAL >Brigades Department >13(a) Borough High Street >London SE1 9SE > >tel: +44 (0)20 7403 5200 >fax: +44 (0)20 7403 3823 >email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >web: www.mariamappeal.com > > > > > > >Knowledge is Power! >Elimination of the exploitation of man by man >http://www.egroups.com/group/pttp/ >POWER TO THE PEOPLE! > >Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Change Delivery Options: >http://www.egroups.com/mygroups > > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
